Fire-escape



2 SheetsSheet 1. G. U. HALE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patnted Aug, 10

PETERS. MGM-Lithograph", Wuhinflion. D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. O. HALE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 10; 1886.

N. PEIERS. mowuuw iqr, Wuhinidnn. no

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O. HALE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

PECIPICA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,907, dated August10, 1886.

Application filed March 2, 1886. Serial No. 193,784. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. HALE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings. 7

My invention relates to improvements in hook-and-ladder trucks; and itconsists of the peculiar and novel construction and combination ofparts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specificallypointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide means whereby a laddercan be elevated or adjusted to the proper required position within avery short time and without requiring the efforts or labor of thefiremen in its elevation.

I propose to provide the truck with a reservoir wherein are placedcertain chemicalagents, which upon being set free enter into combinationand exert great pressure on a 5 movable piston carrying a rack whichmeshes with and rotates a toothed quadrant rigidly secured to the baseor pivoted endof the ladder to be elevated, all as will be more fullydescribed.

The apparatus is under immediate control of the attendant. Thewater'supply and the pressure thereof on the piston. can be regulatedand controlled, the valve-chamber is so disposed as to provide or formthe pivot of the turn-table on which the ladder and the cylinder and itspiston are mounted, and the receptacle containing one of the chemicalsis easily and quickly operated to discharge its contents when required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation througha hook-and-ladder truck having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is adetached detail view, in plan, of the pressure-cylinder and theturn-table, together with a part of the truck-body. Fig. 3 is a view ofthe handle-lever. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through thevalvechamber and a portion of the supply-pipe and the pressure-cylinder,and Fig. 5 is asectional view through the upper portion of thereservoir.

usual class, and is secured upon the truck A at the forward end thereof.As shown herein, the turn-table comprises the two disks or wheels I) I),which are suitably connected to the truck and to one another, so thatthe upper disk or wheel, I), is free to rotate in a horizontal plane toadjust aladder, O, mounted thereon,to any desired point, the disk orwheel b of the turn-table being adjusted, together with its ladder,after the elevation of the latter has been accomplished. The upper diskor.

wheel, I), is provided with loops b", as seen more clearly in Fig. 2,which loops are adapted to receive the tapered and enlarged end of ahandle-lever, B, (shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings,) wherebythe disk Z) and theladder mounted thereon can be conveniently adjustedby hand.

The ladder O is of the common form,and at or near one end it is providedwith trunnions, which are journaled in standards or brackets D, thatsupport the ladder when it is elevated, and these standards are securedon and carried by the rotatable disk or wheel b of the turn-table B. Thelower pivoted end of the ladder has a segment, D, rigidly andpermanently affixed or secured thereto, and the periphery of thissegment is provided with a series of teeth or cogs,whicl1 mesh with andare actuated by a rack on a movable or reciprocating piston, presentlydescribed.

E designates the cylinder, which is rigidly secured to and carried bythe rotatable disk, b, and this cylinder is provided on its lower orunder surface with the inlet-ports c,which open into the chamber of thesame at opposite ends or heads, and communicate with the valve-chamher1" at points in the cylinder-shell which are arranged but a shortdistance apart, a a, so that they can be covered or shut off by a singlevalve, G. The valveshell 9 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured tothe hydraulic or pressure cylinder, and it has a depending nozzle orinduction-port, g, which fits within and is to ICC turn or rotate in awater-jacket, I, that is permanently secured to the truck-body A, thiswater-jacket having a lateral 'flange,'z', at its upper edge,which isfitted or seated in a recessed portion or edge of a plate, I, bolted tothe valve chamber. The turn table is thus free to rotate on a horizontalplane without disturbing the water-jacket I, and a suitable packing maybe provided between said jacket and the valve-case, so as to obviate thedanger of leakage, &c.

The water-jacket has a nozzle or contracted throat, I, to which issuitably connected one end of a supply-pipe, J, which is supported onthe truck-body by any preferable means, one end of said supply-pipebeing bent or curved, as at j, to provide an angular section, j, whichis arranged longitudinally within the reservoir in which the gas isgenerated for actuating the piston K. The piston K is arranged withinthe hydraulic or pressure cylinder E, and has the two heads k, closelyfitting the interior diameter of the cylinder, and a rod, k,'connectingthe piston -heads. The rod carries a toothed bar or rack, k, and withthe same meshes the toothed segment of the pivoted ladder, the segmentbeing projected into the cylinder through a longitudinal slot, k,therein, so that it can mesh with the rack. The cylinder is providedwith the draw-oil" cocks Z in its heads, whereby it can be emptied ofits contents to reduce the pressure on the piston and lower the ladder.

The valve G is mounted on a rod or stem, G, that extends through properstufiing-boxes, g, in the heads of the valve-case, and is thus supportedin proper position, and to one end of the valve-rod is pivotall yconnected one end of a lever, F, that is arranged at the front end ofthe truck-body and pivoted to a lug or other proper support on one ofthe cylinder-heads.

M designates the reservoir in which the gas for actuating the piston isgenerated. This reservoir is arranged in an inclined position on thetruck-hody,to which itis secured in any suitable manner, and at itsupper end it is provided with the depending arms or sup ports N and aremovable cap or cover, 0, having the handles 9 for its proper and easymanipulation. A receptacle, 1?, is pivoted below its center, oreccentrically, in the lower 'ends of the supports or arms N, so thatwhen the cover 1) thereof is removed the receptacle will of itselfassume an'inverted position and empty the acid contained therein intothe reservoir M. The cover 1) and the acid-receptacle P are made ofglass, to resist the action of the acid contained therein, and the coveris mounted on the lower end of a threaded rod, 0, which works in asimilarly-threadcd opening in the removable cover 0, and is providedwith a hand-wheel or other suitable handle, 0, for its convenientmanipulation.

The removable cover 0 can be easily detached to permit the bicarbonateof soda to be placed in the reservoir or tank M, or to renew the supplyof sulphuric acid in the pivoted receptacle P, so that the apparatus isalways ready for instant use. By turning the threaded rod 0 in theproper direction the cover p will be withdrawn from the acid-receptacle,so that the latter will invert itself and empty the contents into thereservoir or tank.

The lower end ofthe supply-pipe terminates a'short distance from thelower head of the reservoir, and said pipe has a valve-seat, q, therein,on which normally rests a checkvalve, Q, to prevent the substance in thepresslire-cylinder or upper end of the pipe from flowing back into thereservoir or tank, the lower end of which is provided with a nozzle, 0,by means of which a hose or other suitable connection can supply thereservoir or tank with water. The operation of my invention is asfollows: The sulphuric acid having been first placed in the receptacle,bicarbonate of soda and water are introduced into the reservoir or tankto adapt the apparatus for immediate use. When the ladder is to beelevated, the rod 0 is turned to withdraw the cover 1) from thereceptacle 1, which will then assume an inverted position and dischargeor empty the sulphuric acid into the water and bicarbonate of soda.These ingredients will enter into chemical combination and evolve acarbonic-acid gas,which will flow through the supply-pipe, the water,and valve-chambers, and thence to the cylinder, and force the piston inthe proper direction to cause the rack to rotate the toothed segment andelevate the ladder G to the proper position, the valve G having beenfirst adjusted to open one of the ports 6 c by manipulating the pivotedlever F. \Vater is supplied in sufficient quantity and pressure to thecylinder to hold the piston and ladder in their proper position afterthe carbonic-acid gas has spent itself through the nozzle 1- of thereservoir or tank M. The piston-heads k of the piston do not move adistance sufiicient to enable them to pass the slot is in the cylinder,and thus permit the escape of the water. The ladder can be turned to anyconvenient position without disturbing the water-supply by means ofthelever B and the horizontally-rotatable turn-table, and the ladder canbe lowered by merely opening one of the escape-cocks Z therein, whichmay be provided with a conducting-pipe, to permit the water to escapeand release the pressure on the piston.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be observed that I provide a simple apparatus for raising aladder in a minimum of time, and without requiring the labor of afireman or other attendant.

The operations or adjustments necessary to set the apparatus in use canbe performed or executed within a minutes notice, and the gas insufficient volume and pressure will be generated within a short time.The devices for controlling the adjustments are all within easy andconvenient reach and under immediate control of an attendant seated orstanding at one end of the truck-body. v

I do not desire to limit myself to the details of construction and formand proportions of parts herein shown and described as an embodiment ofmy invention, as I am aware that many changes therein can be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of myinvention.

\Vater-towers, fire-escapes, and stand-pipes or mains can be elevated inlieu of theladder, and the ladder can be made in extensible sections andcarry life-baskets, cars, or nets atits upper end to aid in the escapeof persons from a burning building.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as nc\v,-anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a truck, of a gasgenerator, a cylinderhaving apiston, connections intermediate of the generator and cylinder, aladder, and mechanism actuated by the piston for elevating the ladder,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a truck, of a gasgenerator having a source ofwater-supply, a cylinder having a piston, a supply-pipe to the cylinder,a valve, a ladder, and means for elevating the same actuated by thepiston, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a truck, a turn-table supported thereon, a laddermounted on the table, a cylinder having a piston and carried by theturn-table, a gas-generator, and a supply-pipe intermediate of thecylinder and generator, substantially as described.

4. The con1bination,with a truck,of a turntable carrying a pivotedladder, a cylinder mounted on the truck and provided with a piston,means intermediate of the piston and ladder of elevating the latter whenthe piston is operated, a regulating-valve carried by the cylinder, agas-generator, and a supply-pipe, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with a truck, of a turntable carrying apivotedladder, a cylinder having a piston, a water-jacket rigidlysecured to the truck-body, a valve-chest carried by the cylinder'andhaving an extension loosely piston therein having a rack, and a pivotedladder havinga toothed segment meshing with the rack, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination of a truck, a waterjacket having an annular flange, aplate on I which the flange is seated and secured to the truck, aturn-table carrying a cylinder, and a valve-chest secured on thecylinder and loosely fitted in the water-jacket, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination of a generator tank or reservoir, a removable coverthereto provided with a screw-threaded perforation, supports or arms, anacid-receptacle eccentrically pivoted in said supports or arms, and acover to the receptacle connected to the lower end of ascrew-threadedrod, which is adapted to be screwed up and down throughthe screwthreaded aperture in tank-cover, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. The combination of a truck, a gas-generator having a reversibleacid-receptacle and a su pply-nozzle, a slotted cylinder having drawoffcocks, a piston having a rack, a pivoted ladder carrying a toothedsegment, a valvechest carried by the cylinder, a valve-rod having avalve, and a pivoted lever,awater-'jacket, with which the valve;chestcommunicates,and a supply-pipe entering the gas-generator and having acheck valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. GEORGE C. HALE.

Witnesses:

D. P. HUNTER, A. VAN PATTEN.

